Backing fabric - 13" x 12" (33cm x 30cm) I used calico, but you can use any fabric. The thicker the fabric, the sturdier the end result.

Lining - roughly 13" x 9" (33cm x 23cm) Cut out the lining after you have finished the QAYG (Quilt As You Go) fabric. Adjust measurements to be the same.

Contrasting ends - roughly 9" x 2½" (30cm x 6cm)

Layer the backing fabric and the batting - backing fabric on the bottom, right side down.

Place the batting on top of the backing fabric - towards one side but leaving a gap.

Place one narrow, contrasting strip on top of the batting - right side of the fabric facing up.

Sew straight lines of stitching. Mine are very roughly ⅜" apart and with a stitch length of 2.6.

I used a walking foot, but for a small project like this, a regular presser foot should be OK. If the top fabric is stretching or bunching up, try reducing the presser foot pressure and increasing the stitch length.

Place the main fabric on top of the contrasting, narrow strip - right sides together and lined up along one edge

Reduce stitch length and sew with a ¼" seam - I used a stitch length of 2.0

Open out and finger press.

Increase stitch length and quilt as for the 1st contrasting, narrow strip.

Repeat for all strips.

Decrease the stitch length for the seams and increase for the quilting.

At the end of each row of quilting, pivot, turn, sew across a few stitches, pivot again and sew the next row of stitching. This means you are not stopping and starting as often.

Trim the edges, making sure the corners are squared. Mine ended up at 11¾" x 9" (30cm x 23cm).

Cut 2 strips of fabric 9" x 2½" (30cm x 6cm). Adjust this measurement to be the same as the width of your fabric.

Fold strip in half lengthwise, right sides together.

Place the strip on the QAYG fabric raw edges together

Sew with a ¼" seam.

Flip to the right side with the seam pushed towards the contrasting strip.

Finger press.

Topstitch ⅛" from the seam.

Repeat for the other side.

Measure the QAYG fabric and cut lining to the same size. Mine ended up at 13" x 9⅛".

That's it! You've finished your QAYG fabric ready to make into a zippered pouch. This piece of fabric forms both the front and the back of the pouch. It will be folded in half so there's no seam at the bottom.

Choose your favourite zippered pouch tutorial or pattern and make up your new bag. You may have to modify the instructions:

If the pattern calls for a seam at the bottom, omit this step.

If the pattern leaves the gap in the lining at the bottom, leave your gap in the side seam.

If you find you can't get your head around modifying an existing tutorial from one with a seam at the bottom, to one without, give me a yell and I'll do a tutorial.

I added 1½" boxed corners. (¾" + ¾" if you follow the boxed corners instructions as per this drawstring bag tutorial.)

My finished bag ended up at 8" x 6" x 1½" (20cm x 15cm x 4cm). You can, of course, alter any of the dimensions in this tutorial to make a bag exactly the size you want. My last QAYG zippered pouch ended up slightly larger. For that one, I began with 6 strips of fabric 12" x 2".

I added the zipper using the open wide zippered pouch tutorial. It works beautifully every time. And I just had to add a zipper pull and charm.

Sadly for me, I no longer have this little bag. I whipped up a drawstring gift bag to pop it in, before it went to its new home. I'll show you how I made the bag next week. Perhaps you recognise the fabric from a previous post?

If you make QAYG fabric using this tutorial, and turn it into a zippered pouch, I'd love to see photos:

9 comments:

That medallion print is one of my all time favorite fabrics. I'm hoarding my last piece, but seeing your lovely bag might just get me to pull it out and give this a try. If you have time, please do share a tutorial on making a zippy bag without a seam on the bottom. I've done them, but find the zipper hard to sew. Any hints would be most welcome!

I haven't had much time lately to visit so I continue to feel I miss so much and hope to go back before long to see all of your great posts.This is a wonderful little purse and the Quilt As You Go technique is so appealing to me. I am going to pin to my quilting and sewing board. Wishing you a great week ahead!